Meet your new brunch obsession: Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls! Imagine everything you love about comforting, classic banana bread—sweet, tender, and loaded with rich banana flavor—swirled with gooey cinnamon sugar and crowned with a swoon-worthy cream cheese glaze. These rolls are ridiculously soft, perfectly sweet, and practically demand to be shared with your favorite people (unless you feel like keeping them all for yourself, which is perfectly understandable). If you love both banana bread and cinnamon rolls, this fusion just might become your go-to treat for lazy weekends, holiday mornings, or whenever you need a little extra coziness in your day.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls is how just a handful of pantry basics can transform into something extraordinary. Each ingredient plays its part, from giving the dough its pillowy texture to infusing every swirl with irresistible flavor and aroma.
- Ripe Bananas: The riper, the better—spotty bananas add sweetness, moisture, and that unmistakable banana bread taste.
- Warm Milk (110°F): Helps activate the yeast for a perfectly airy, tender dough.
- Granulated Sugar: Just enough to feed the yeast and lightly sweeten the dough.
- Active Dry Yeast: Gives these rolls their fluffy rise—make sure it’s not expired!
- Large Egg: Binds everything together and gives the dough richness.
- Unsalted Butter (melted and softened): Adds that melt-in-your-mouth quality to both the dough and filling.
- All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of these rolls; add more as needed for a soft, slightly sticky dough.
- Salt: Just a pinch to balance sweetness and enhance flavor.
- Brown Sugar: The secret to a caramel-like, gooey cinnamon filling.
- Ground Cinnamon: The heart and soul of any cinnamon roll!
- Cream Cheese: For a tangy, dreamy glaze you’ll want to eat with a spoon.
- Powdered Sugar: Sweetens the glaze to perfection.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and a cozy aroma to the glaze.
- Milk (for glaze): Just a splash makes the glaze luscious and spreadable.
How to Make Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls
Step 1: Bloom the Yeast
Kick things off by warming your milk (not too hot!) and dissolving the sugar right in. Sprinkle the yeast over the top. After a few minutes, it should get nice and foamy, which is your sign that the yeast is alive and ready to help your dough rise to fluffy perfection.
Step 2: Mix the Dough
In a big mixing bowl, combine your mashed bananas, egg, melted butter, and that bubbly yeast mixture. Then stir in the flour and salt until a shaggy dough forms. Once it comes together, it’s time to knead! Go for about five to seven minutes by hand or mixer, adding a little flour only if absolutely needed, until the dough feels soft, smooth, and elastic.
Step 3: First Rise
Transfer your dough to a greased bowl, cover with a towel, and let it rise in a cozy spot. After about an hour or so, it should double in size, becoming super puffy—trust the process, this is where the magic happens!
Step 4: Prepare the Filling
While the dough is rising, whip up the filling. All it takes is a quick stir of brown sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl. Make sure your butter for spreading is extra soft so it goes on easily later.
Step 5: Roll, Fill, and Slice
Punch down your dough and roll it out on a floured surface into a generous rectangle (aim for about 10×14 inches). Spread the softened butter edge-to-edge, sprinkle every inch with your cinnamon-sugar magic, then roll it up into a tight log. Slice into 12 even rolls for a bakery-style look—you can use dental floss or a sharp knife for this!
Step 6: Second Rise
Arrange the rolls snugly in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Cover and let them puff up in a warm spot for another 30 to 45 minutes. They should look plump and promise fluffy insides once baked.
Step 7: Bake to Golden Perfection
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Bake your Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls for 20 to 25 minutes, watching for that irresistible golden brown on top. The smell will be pure heaven!
Step 8: Glaze & Enjoy
While the rolls bake, beat together cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and just a bit of milk to make the glaze. Once the rolls come out and are still warm, slather on the glaze so it melts into every swirl. Trust me—this is the moment everyone crowds around the pan.
How to Serve Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls
Garnishes
For an extra burst of flavor and a pretty finish, sprinkle your warm Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls with a little chopped toasted pecans or walnuts, or even a dusting of extra cinnamon. A handful of sliced bananas on top can also make a gorgeous and delicious touch.
Side Dishes
These rolls make an epic centerpiece for brunch, but they’re lovely with simple sides like fresh fruit salad or a crisp green salad with citrus vinaigrette. For a heartier spread, serve with scrambled eggs or yogurt parfaits for the full sweet-and-savory experience.
Creative Ways to Present
Stack your Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls high on a pretty cake stand, or nestle them in a basket lined with a colorful napkin for casual sharing. If you’re feeling fancy, try baking them in individual ramekins for personalized mini rolls. Drizzle a little extra glaze in a zigzag pattern for that bakery-worthy finish!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you’re lucky enough to have rolls left over, just pop them in an airtight container. They’ll stay soft and delicious at room temperature for up to two days, or in the fridge for up to four days. A quick zap in the microwave brings them right back to life!
Freezing
Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls freeze up beautifully. After baking and cooling, wrap them tightly in foil and store in a freezer bag for up to two months. You can also freeze the unbaked, cut rolls on a tray, then store them in a freezer bag—let thaw and rise before baking as usual.
Reheating
To recapture that fresh-baked warmth, just microwave individual rolls for 15–20 seconds or pop a baking dish of rolls in the oven at 325°F, covered with foil, until warmed through. A touch more glaze never hurts if they look thirsty!
FAQs
Can I make Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls the night before?
Absolutely! After rolling and slicing, place the rolls in your baking dish, cover tightly, and pop in the fridge overnight. Let them come to room temperature and puff up before baking in the morning for a stress-free start to your day.
What if I don’t have ripe bananas?
No ripe bananas? No problem! You can speed up the process: just bake yellow bananas (unpeeled) at 300°F for 15–20 minutes until they’re blackened and sweet, then cool and mash. It’s a little kitchen hack that works wonders.
Can I use whole wheat flour instead?
You can swap in up to half whole wheat flour for a heartier, nuttier roll. Any more and they may get dense, so keep a light hand and remember that the bananas already provide great moisture and tenderness.
Is it possible to make these dairy-free?
Definitely! Use your favorite plant-based butter, almond or oat milk, and a dairy-free cream cheese for the glaze. The result will still be every bit as comforting and tasty as the original Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls.
Why didn’t my rolls rise properly?
Most often, under-rising is because the yeast was old or expired, or the liquids were too hot or cold. Always check your yeast and temperature. A warm, draft-free place is key for pillowy rolls that rise to their full potential.
Final Thoughts
If you love baking projects that deliver big on both flavor and comfort, these Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls are impossible to resist. They’re the kind of treat that makes ordinary mornings feel special and turns brunch into a celebration. Give them a try, and don’t be surprised if they disappear fast—sharing is highly encouraged, but not required!
Print
Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes (including rise time)
- Yield: 12 rolls
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in these delicious Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls that combine the flavors of banana bread with the warmth of cinnamon in a delightful swirl, topped with a creamy glaze. Perfect for a cozy breakfast or sweet treat.
Ingredients
Dough:
- 1 cup mashed ripe banana (about 2 bananas)
- 1/2 cup warm milk (110°F)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3 to 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Filling:
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
Glaze:
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1–2 tablespoons milk (as needed for consistency)
Instructions
- Dough: In a small bowl, combine warm milk and sugar, then sprinkle yeast over the top. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy. In a large mixing bowl, combine mashed banana, egg, melted butter, and yeast mixture. Stir in 3 cups of flour and salt. Mix until a soft dough forms, adding more flour if needed. Knead by hand or with a dough hook for about 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1–1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
- Filling: Meanwhile, prepare the filling by mixing brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Once the dough has risen, punch it down and roll out on a floured surface into a 10×14-inch rectangle. Spread the softened butter over the dough, then sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly on top. Roll up tightly from the long edge and cut into 12 even slices.
- Baking: Place the rolls in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Cover and let rise again for 30–45 minutes until puffy. Preheat oven to 350°F and bake the rolls for 20–25 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Glaze: While the rolls bake, prepare the glaze by beating cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until smooth and spreadable. Spread glaze over warm rolls before serving.
Notes
- Use very ripe bananas for the best flavor.
- These rolls can be made ahead and refrigerated overnight before the second rise. Let them come to room temp before baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 17g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
